Nadja Al Kanawati

• Represented a Cypriot investor in an ICSID arbitration against Armenia arising out of an investment in the mining sector.
• Represented a Middle Eastern state entity in a consolidated US$1.7 billion LCIA arbitration seated in London against a UK-domiciled international energy company relating to the termination of two production sharing contracts. The case had significant geopolitical implications.
• Represented a US mining consortium in a US$1.8 billion ICC arbitration seated in Switzerland against an African company and its U.S. parent company relating to shipping rights allegedly transferred to the former by a West African State.
• Represented a global biotechnology company in an ICC arbitration seated in London arising under a co-development, co-commercialization and co-manufacturing agreement.
• Represented a supplier of refractory products in an AAA arbitration seated in Vienna against a procurement logistics provider and a steel services company relating to a contract which could not be performed as a result of sanctions against a Central American state.
• Represented a Saudi Arabian medical device distributor in a Swiss Centre arbitration seated in Switzerland relating to an exclusive supply and distribution agreement.
• Represented a Spanish energy company in the enforcement of two international arbitral awards worth in excess of US$100 million in the Swiss courts, including before the Swiss Supreme Court (Swiss Federal Supreme Court Judgment 4A_663/2018, dated May 27, 2019).
• Represented a UAE construction company in an ICC arbitration seated in Switzerland relating to the construction of a desalination plant.

Nadja Al Kanawati helps clients navigate high-stakes international commercial and investment arbitration disputes. Across industry sectors and jurisdictions, she leverages her experience in both civil and common law systems to deliver clear strategic advice and persuasive advocacy, helping clients achieve their commercial objectives, manage risk, and protect their critical business interests. 

Nadja is dual-qualified in Switzerland and New York, enabling her to seamlessly bridge civil and common law systems in giving strategic advice to clients. Nadja advises companies, investors, and sovereign entities in complex commercial and investment arbitrations worldwide. She has experience representing clients in disputes conducted under a broad range of institutional and ad hoc rules, including the AAA/ICDR, ICC, ICSID, DIS, LCIA, SIAC, Swiss, UNCITRAL, and VIAC rules. 

Nadja helps clients navigate every stage of the arbitral process, providing strategic guidance and persuasive advocacy tailored to their commercial objectives. She has particular experience in disputes arising in the life sciences, energy, oil and gas, and mining sectors, combining industry knowledge with legal insight to help clients address complex challenges and achieve successful outcomes. 

In addition to her counsel practice, Nadja regularly sits as arbitrator in commercial disputes. This dual perspective gives her valuable insight into arbitral decision-making and informs her approach to case strategy and advocacy. 

Nadja is also actively engaged in the international arbitration community through leadership roles in professional organizations, regular speaking engagements, and academic teaching.